Duke Basketball: Kyrie Irving Has to Leave but Quinn Cook Is a Star in the Making

Can you name a projected top five draft pick that went back to school and then became a star in the NBA because of that extra year? Maybe Tim Duncan, but he was already a star. Going back to school for his senior year allowed him to become the No. 1 pick in a weaker draft.

The 1996 class was one of the deepest drafts in the last 20 years, and maybe only second to the 2003 class better known as Miami’s Big Three. Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson, Ray Allen, Marcus Camby were all up against Tim Duncan, with Iverson eventually going first to the Philadelphia 76ers.

At this point we all know that Duncan, with four NBA championships under his belt, had the better career. But in 1996, it was anyone’s guess as to who best deserved the No. 1 pick. So in this instance, going back to school and getting his education was beneficial to Tim Duncan.

If you argued that at 19 years of age, Kyrie Irving needs to go back to school because a point guard needs more maturity in order to lead a professional team, this would be your only legitimate argument for him returning to Duke. Albeit a weak argument.

He is not as overly athletic as Derrick Rose or can shoot like Deron Williams, but he can get to the basket and finish with either hand at will. That is an invaluable skill. Becoming a savvy point guard like Steve Nash comes with time in the NBA. Learning the game in college only makes you good at college basketball, that’s why seniors always wonder why they are being relegated to the second round.

The NCAA game is played by kids and the NBA is played by the best of the best. 

If you argue that a free education is priceless, you will be correct. But a free education to a talented basketball player is just a side benefit. If a free education equals financial stability, what good is it if you have already achieved financial stability? Helps you hold on to that new money, right? However, now that you have money, you can pay for your own education and leave that scholarship to someone who requires it.

The real reason the top basketball players go to college is to gain exposure. Consider the story of Jeremy Tyler, who left high school as a junior to pursue a professional basketball career abroad because he thought it would maximize his chances of making the NBA.  

Fast forward to the 2011 draft and he is an unknown prospect. No one has him projected to be a first-round pick but he could have been had he gone to Louisville as previously planned. He is a 6’10” athletic big man, a rare gem, but playing and living in a foreign land as 17-year-old is not for everyone. Had he played college basketball; he would have been considered a top five pick still.

Now he is just known as that kid who forfeited his senior year of high school to play professionally in Europe then quit the team and ended up playing in a Japanese league. Not the usual beginning for an NBA All-Star, but the jury is still out on Tyler.

Irving played 11 college games, but he is projected as a top draft prospect. Not all players that get drafted are charismatic enough to be the face of their team. With the right personality, a player can sell jerseys, keep the fanbase interested and motivate more people to support the team even in a down year (see Griffin, Blake).

I believe Irving is that kind of guy. He is very likeable, unless you have UNC bias. Sometimes you see a player sitting on the bench due to injury or whatever reason, halfheartedly cheering for his team, but not Irving. He is just as happy when Nolan Smith scored, as if it was himself that made the shot.  His enthusiasm was infectious.

Having a lockout season will work in Kyrie’s benefit as it will give him more time to get back in shape after missing the bulk of Duke’s season due to a toe injury. As a top five pick, his team will have ample time to promote him as a face of their franchise. Plus, he will be able to break into the endorsement market more fluidly.

Long shot of it is if Irving had decided to spend another year at Duke he would be doing this for others, rather than for himself.  As a Duke fan, I would really love to see Irving wearing No. 1 in blue again, but it is not to be.

The good news for Duke fans is that Quinn Cook is no runner up.  If you follow him on Twitter; you will realize that he is very humble and respectful, and he wants to learn. He hangs out with John Wall and calls Nolan Smith his big brother as they went to Oak Hill academy.

He averaged 20 points and 10 assists a game. Hence, he likes to pass the ball and can score. Just the kind of guard Duke needs right now, especially with ESPN’s No. 1 high school recruit, Austin Rivers, coming to town.

As Cook tweeted, Oak Hill Academy has had a major contributor on the last three NCAA championship teams. Ty Lawson, Nolan Smith and Roscoe Smith, followed by this tweet:

QCook323 ;I wanna keep that streak alive!!! RiP DAD!

He will have a battle on his hand with Seth Curry and Tyler Thornton already in place, but as he told draftexpress.com during the annual show down between Duke and North Carolina incoming recruits, he is going to “work hard and not worry about my minutes as Coach K is a genius, he will keep us happy.”